Masina Hospital with Muskaan Foundation launch ‘Adolescent and Child Therapy Unit’

The special unit will offer treatment at affordable prices, lessening financial burden on patients

Masina Hospital inaugurated the ‘Masina Adolescent and Child Therapy’ (MACT) unit to provide comprehensive healthcare services for children and adolescents. Masina Hospital partnered with Muskaan Foundation who played an integral role in setting up this special unit that will offer treatment at an affordable price, lessening the financial burden on the patients.

The extensive team at MACT includes paediatricians, child and adolescent psychiatrist, clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, occupational therapists, remedial education and special education, speech and language therapists providing the highest quality of services.

Mental health is an issue which cannot be treated in isolation. It requires a holistic inspection with adequate ancillary services for betterment of the patient. Keeping this in mind, MACT provides therapists in each department to give the child holistic treatment and ample attention to the mental health of the child as well as the caregiver (parent or guardian).

Neglecting mental health among adolescents and children can lead to emotional and behavioural problems which could impact their development. With this in focus, the centre aims to cater to children and adolescents with ADHD, learning disability and fall in grades of students, emotional and behavioural problems of child, aggression, temper tantrums, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, cerebral palsy and related conditions.

“With the fast changing scenarios and increase of technology usage by children, the need of addressing these issues among children and adolescents is increasing day by day. At Masina, we understand the importance and provide ample attention to the mental health of the child as well as the caregiver,” says Dr Bhooshan Shukla, Psychiatrist, Masina Hospital

Dipti Gandhi, Muskaan Foundation said, “A 2018 report by World Health Organisation recorded that the mental health conditions account for 16 per cent of the global burden of disease and injury in people aged 10–19 years. Today, the need for facilities like Masina’s child and adolescent unit is on a surge where extensive treatments are provided at one place at minimal costs.”

MACT is soon planning to start an internet and gaming addiction clinic. Programmes concentrating on children with multiple disabilities including blindness will also be initiated.